Former world champions Michael Smith and Peter Wright have missed out on a place in this year’s Premier League Darts roster.
Smith was a semi-finalist in last season’s edition after winning the 2023 world title, but he has fallen to 16th in the world rankings, while former Premier League runner-up Wright , has struggled to get in shape over the past 12 months.
New world champions Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross were already assured of a place in the Professional Darts Corporation tournament and they will be joined by wildcards Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall .
Bunting, reigning Masters winner and ranked fifth in the world, will be a popular addition after his fine run in the last four at Alexandra Palace, but Dave Chisnall, Jonny Clayton and Damon Heta – sixth, seventh and eighth in the world – are all absent . .
Players Championship champion Dobey also had an excellent World Championship campaign with a semi-final appearance, while Price and Aspinall suffered defeat in the quarter-finals, but they will all be part of the 13th edition of the eight-a-side competition.
The first evening of the tournament begins in Belfast on February 6 and the final is scheduled for the O2 in London on May 29.
PDC chief executive Matt Porter told Sky Sports: “Obviously with Price, Dobey and Aspinall there are players above them in the rankings who haven’t been selected, but we We looked at it in terms of stage presence, popularity and how they can attract a crowd of 10,000 people every Thursday.
“We want people to be on the edge of their seats. We want people to get up and enjoy their darts. This doesn’t mean other players can’t do this. You have to decide who is right at that moment.
